Since I started writing this blog, a number of readers have asked whether I planned to compile The Monsters Know What They’re Doing’s monster tactics into a book, and the answer I gave was always no.
Then I was made an offer I couldn’t refuse.
The Monsters Know What They’re Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters is due to be published Dec. 3 Oct 29, 2019, by Gallery Books Saga Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, and is now available for pre-order!
This book will feature all the creatures I’ve analyzed from the Monster Manual, along with exclusive analyses of un-blogged monsters including aarakocra, basilisks, cockatrices, griffons and hippogriffs, kenku, merfolk, quaggoths and xorn, and will be available in both hardcover and e-book formats.
Click here to pre-order The Monsters Know What They’re Doing from your favorite independent bookseller.
I’m a strong believer in independent booksellers as community anchors, promoting the free expression and sharing of ideas, enriching the cultural life of communities, and keeping money circulating in the local economy. If you don’t already have a favorite independent bookseller, maybe it’s time to get to know one!
Or, I guess, you could pre-order from one of these online retailers:
Well this is just grand news, isn’t it? You’re making it harder and harder to keep your wisdom away from my players, but I preordered the book anyway.
Pre-ordered!
Also… I find myself repeatedly buying new copies of “Live to Tell The Tale” as a gift to every friend I play D&D with. It’s becoming a compulsion…
This is excellent news.
Fantastic! Well done, Keith!!! And the zip code tool for finding indie book stores is also a treat.
SO EXCITE, MUCH WOW
Seriously, Keith, I’m thrilled to hear this and look forward to buying one to support your fabulous work!
A much deserved boon for you and your efforts. I will spread the word of Ammann.
Your monsters are going to slay my poor student wallet but somehow I don’t mind.
Cool! Is there a possibility of an audio book version?
I don’t know for certain yet, but I can let my editor know that readers are asking.
I’m gonna pick this up to support the blog regardless, but is this book just a compilation of the blog posts, or is there new material?
As I indicated above, the book will include material that hasn’t appeared (and won’t appear) on the blog.
I think folks will particularly enjoy the tactics of the xorn.
Oh sorry, I just realized I misread that sentence and asked a redundant question! Silly me
No worries!
This is released on my birthday. Pre-ordered. Happy Birthday to me!
I would like to second the idea of making it an audiobook. With me being blind it’s probably the only way I’ll be able to read it.
Gah… IndieBound only ships to the continental US..
Those of us in the frozen north also want you book.. Amazon canada has it listed at $35 but I suspect most of that is their profit not yours
Oof. I figured the Canadian Booksellers Association might have something similar to IndieBound. I didn’t realize it was defunct. ?
It would be like totally awesome if you brought this (and your other book) to GenCon Indy. I’d totally buy autographed copies from you!
This is the best news!
Hey it’s me again are you all releasing this book on the Kindle as an e-book, will you do so for live to tell the tale?
Spelling errors what I meant to say was: hey it’s me again you are releasing this book on Kindle as an e-book. Will you do the same for live to tell the tale?
I’m excited for your book, but does this mean no new content on the site for a long time?
It means that when my 4-month-old daughter deigns to take a nap, what little cognitive candlepower I have left is mostly going into revisions at the moment. But yes, I do mean to keep putting content on the blog when I can manage it.
hey it’s me again you are releasing this book on Kindle as an e-book. Will you do the same for live to tell the tale?
I just bought a copy of Live to Tell the Tale. Would prefer to pay more and get a hard or soft bound copy. Printing out a pdf and putting it in a folder is much less satisfying.
Just out of curiosity, I ordered my copy of Monsters directly and not through one of the book sellers. Does that mean that you will just be shipping out copies (and that you will then keep the profits)? I hope so.
If you mean you ordered Live to Tell the Tale directly, I do receive all proceeds from that.
If you mean you ordered The Monsters Know What They’re Doing directly off the publisher’s page, then no, you’re not ordering from me, you’re ordering directly from the publisher, and it’s the publisher who’ll ship it to you when it’s released.
I love this blog and I’ll definitely be picking up a copy of the book. Any chance you’ll finish off the Beasts section before print? Would love to have the tactics for all the critters druids can Wildshape into or that you can summon with Conjure Animals.
No new beasts, unfortunately. The book is going to be thick enough as it is!
Do you think you’ll get around to adding them to the blog then?
I’m happy to add that to the queue of requests.
Godangit I hope i can buy a pdf later because ordering to sweden is hard,
But I’m still happy to hear the news!
Any chance of a pdf release? Shipping from the US to Sweden usually costs an arm and a leg.
It’s going to be available in both print and e-book formats! Still don’t know about audio, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.